“Volvo makes me immensely proud”
After a long working day, I enjoy putting on my jogging shoes and going for a run in the countryside. This is my way of winding down and reflecting over the day, but it is also an opportunity to think about forthcoming events and decisions. During the past few months, there have been many running sessions of this kind – not always outside in the fresh air but perhaps on hotel treadmills in different parts of the world instead. Since I took over as deputy CEO and now as CEO, I have spent a great deal of time travelling and learning more and more about the Group. I have made many highly interesting visits to conference rooms and different plants.
During my time at both Volvo Aero and Volvo Construction Equipment, I was frequently struck by the fantastic determination displayed by these companies’ employees to do the best job they possibly could. To create the best products and offer our customers the best possible reception. It is this engagement that I am now seeing throughout the Group and, when I see what we have jointly created so far, it makes me immensely proud. However, as everyone knows, no company is ever totally complete. We must naturally be proud of our history, but, at the same time, we need to be prepared to develop and improve the whole time. Ten years ago, the Volvo Group was totally different and we can be sure that, ten years from now, it will not be the same as it is today. The business world is changing rapidly and we need to keep pace, both to retain our existing customers and to attract new customers in different parts of the world. I realise, for example, that we need to review our decision-making processes and reduce the time between decisions and action. Ours is a large organisation and this unfortunately sometimes means that our processes are slow and time consuming and this is something we need to change. The collaboration between our business areas and business units is especially important.
It needs to be well co-ordinated, with clear-cut synergies.
I also feel that it is important for us to have a clearly defined, long-term strategy with which everyone is familiar. A strategy should not be a secret document that is hidden in a desk drawer. It should be something we discuss at work, something everyone understands.
I want you, in your capacity as a Group employee, to realise that your role is important and has a part to play in the Volvo Group’s future. I want you to feel that you can participate and influence things. The point is that every individual can make a difference, if he or she wishes to do so. It is going to be incredibly exciting for us to continue developing the Volvo Group together. We are going to safeguard our strong brands and continue to deliver the world’s leading trucks, buses, construction equipment and financial services. I am personally expecting to do a great deal of demanding and enjoyable work. I like examining and changing things and asking myself if there are smarter ways of working.
Olof Persson
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It’s my great hope that , everyone in the group feel proud and energetic to influence things by active participation in achieving Misssion and Vission of the Company.
I am particulrly feel proud to be associated with this Organisation!
B/r Ganesh K Pal